ONE of Thurrock's biggest stores has confirmed it will be reopening on Monday, 15 June.

Primark at Lakeside says it will be putting rigorous health and safety measures in place and will operate strict social distancing protocols.

However, one of intu Lakeside's other keynote stores, Debehams, is still to announce an opening date - and today it was announced that three of the company's stores that have failed to secure lease deals with intu will now be permanently closed.

Stores at Milton Keynes, Watford and the Metrocentre, Gateshead, will not reopen after lockdown restrictions are eased, meaning about 300 job losses. Debenhams said it had failed to agree new rental terms with the landlord, intu, itself currently juggling with financial trouble across its wide portfolio of stores.

The company has warned that two more of its stores may not reopen as deals with landlords have not yet been agreed and with no reopening date set for Debehams at Lakeside, while 50 of its other stores across the country will reopen, concern has been expressed about the local business's future though in April, it had looked secure.

Meanwhile Primark is reopening next week.

There will be limits on the number of customers allowed in store at any one time to allow for the appropriate distance in between customers and employees. Primark will implement a queuing system at the shop entrances and have dedicated employees responsible for managing queues at tills, and also monitoring the sales floor to ensure social distancing measures are being followed.

As well as screens at tills and increased cleaning there will be clear signage and floor decals, as well as dedicated employees and additional security staff to guide customers through the store in a way that limits contact with others.

For the moment fitting rooms will remain closed, as will customer toilets until further notice.